2022 Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship Now Open
The Perecman Firm, is now accepting applications for our seventh annual Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship!
The Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship Fund awards $5,000 to a student who is:
- Diagnosed on the autism spectrum or who has a close family member living with autism; and
- Enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college, university, or vocational school in the U.S. for undergrad or post-graduate studies for the 2022 Fall Semester.
Eligible students are encouraged to complete an application form, provide a copy of academic transcripts, and submit a short essay on one of three provided prompts. The submission deadline for the 2022 Scholarship is
July 31, 2022 at 11:59 pm EST. A winner will be notified in August.
For more information about the Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship, rules, and required submissions and essay topics, visit our scholarship page.
Avonte’s Story
This scholarship honors the legacy of Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old boy with autism who in 2013 tragically drowned in the East River after wandering away from his school in Queens, NY.
Avonte’s story sparked an unprecedented outpouring of support in our local community, and ultimately inspired legislation to protect students with special needs – both in New York City (
Avonte’s Law) and nationally through federal law (Kevin and Avonte’s Law).
Attorney David H. Perecman and our firm represented Avonte’s mother in a wrongful death action filed on behalf of Avonte in 2013. We’re proud to keep Avonte’s story alive by helping students pursue their dreams through higher education.